Need reasurrance on Horizons!

[Nom]

We are owners at the Grande Vista, and traded to Horizons, mainly for the pool. I figured that since it was a marriott time share, the accomidations, although themed differently, would be pretty similar to the GV. Well, after reading two reviews on the reviews page I am a little nervous about our oct trip. I don't want to be in a tiny room! The lack of jacuzzi does not bother me, but are the rooms ok? We have a two bedroom, and loved the size of the GV resort. I had figured the Horizons size would be the same, but from what I am reading this does not seem to be the case.

I called the resort before I booked and was told there was a counter service place we could get a limited breakfast- is that true? If not, my parents will be disappointed because they like to be able to get breakfast.

I like that it is a smaller resort than GV, but I am hoping it is not junky. We don't spend a ton of time at the resort (don't do daytime activities or anything, just nightime kareoke), but we would like to be at a nice place.

I think I am just getting last minute neves and fear of change. Can anyone reassure me about our upcoming trip? Thanks so much!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I posted a review and if I were you I would switch to the GV if I could. The smaller room size was not that big of a deal and we are a family of 5. It was more the overall feeling of the resort. I guess breakfast would be at one of the pool bars. They have a menu on the first TV channel. Their prices were even higher than Disney food courts! We didn't get anything from the bars. I went looking for ice cream one afternoon and all one bar had was the stick kind. Ice cream on a stick in 98 degree heat is not a good idea. My Dh really the Grande Vista. It irked him that the auto key card entry to the resort was broken the whole time we were there. We had to flash our key card to security everytime. I didn't want to scare anyone into a bad trip but after staying at the GV I really can't recommend Horizons.

 

[Sabri2007]

question.....what is the correct way to say 'Grande' in Grande Vista? Is there a long e?

 

[Sabri2007]

I was watching the travel channel sunday night all about Disney cruiselines. There were adults on the program that were complaining because there were to many kids. They also expressed how they liked the fact that the cruiseship had different areas for adults.

Can someone please explain why adults would go on an Disney cruiseline in the first place? I'm mean common...of course there are going to be kids there.

 

[Nom]

3DisneyBuggs, I have to admit, it was your review that pushed me over the edge of just being a little nervous to feeling like I am in full panic mode!

I called Horizons and checked, they do have breakfast at the pool bar, and have coffee available throughout the day (two things that were really important to my parents).

It is also good to hear that the room was not uncomfortably small. We are also a family of 5.

After talking with my mom, we are going to stick with Horizons to try something new (although I still feel nervous but oh well, at least we will have tried it- and I was all ready to switch until I spoke to my mom!).

Post more good things about Horizons, other posters! please!

 

[spiceycat]

if you have small children stick with Horizons - if pre teens or definitely teens go back to GV

 

[Lisa P.]

Littlestar (around here somewhere ) has posted this link to her resort photos from her April 2006 stay at Horizons by Marriott. She and other DVCers on that thread had very positive things to say about their family vacations there. The photos are of the common areas, not room interiors, and they're gorgeous. I can see why families would like spending time just enjoying this resort. If we were going to Orlando with kids (ours are young adults), we'd definitely want to try this resort! Maybe seeing a real person's photos (not just the company's advertising) will put your mind at ease? HTH.

 

[jeff968]

We've stayed at Cypress harbor (across the street) 3 times and toured Horizons twice (sure, I'll take the points for a 90 minute tour). Horizons looks fantastic if you have younger children. They'll have a blast and the pool looks great. The rooms are definately smaller. Cypress Harbor rooms are huge and I thought it was noticeably smaller at Horizons plus the tub is missing. That said, they weren't that bad so you should be fine. It looks like a great family resort.

 

[Nom]

my dd will be turning 3 on this vacation, so she definately fits the demographic.

Thanks everyone for your feedback- I am feeling cautiously optimistic. Those pics were great, and they were actually one of the reasons I decided to trade, so it was good to see them again.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Detailor]

question.....what is the correct way to say 'Grande' in Grande Vista? Is there a long e?

It's pronounced just like grand. I think they use Grande to make it sound extra fancy.

Dick Taylor

 

[Detailor]

Horizons looks like a nice resort but we haven't stayed there. We seriously considered it for our winter 2008 trip just to change things up a little bit but ultimately decided to stay with Cypress Harbour and Grande Vista for our two weeks. We'll be there with two teens so there was no attraction to the themed pool area for us and we just felt the more luxurious accommodations at CH and GV would be better for us. With that said, so many people rave about Horizons particularly pointing out the orientation toward families with small children. If that sounds like you, I can't help but think that you'd enjoy Horizons.

Dick Taylor

 

[Nom]

I guess we'll see- I will be sure to post a review after our trip!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have given several posetive reviews on this board for horizons. one is on a thread right now.

I think 3disneybuggs just had a bad luck of the draw.
even if you take the Marriott tour, they themselves will tell you. at Grand vista more $$$ was spent on the ineriors of the rooms. At Horizon's all the $$ went into the outside.

I love both. but with your 3 year old. Horizon's is better. the pirate ship pool will be great for her. as well as the zero entry pool at the pirate plunge pool. Please don't be nervous you will be just fine.
It is smaller and esier to bnavigate with small children. Has a great little playground. I have over 200 picytures from August. When I put them on Disk. I will post them if you like.

the onsite food is kind of blah... but they do serve breakfst in an outdoor cafe.
However......There is wonderful tkae out chinese that delivers!!! Citrus Garden.
publix is 1 mile away as is Mc Donalds, Outback, pannera 2miles,?? it is very convienant.

 

[Nom]

Has a great little playground.

That is great! I did not know they had a playground- she will love that!

I read also that he Grand Vista is only 2 mi away, so my parents can always visit Nick's Grill there for breakfast if they want to. (they were regulars there every morning the past two years).

Thanks for your feedback- I am feeling more reassured!

 

[maciec]

Nom .... when are you going? We are going to be at Horizons Oct. 18-25th. We can't wait! This is a much needed vacation for our family. I have a 4yo and 7yo and they have seen all of the pictures on Tripadvisor and are so excited to get to the pool. I know that it's not as plush as Grande Vista (we stayed there in 2004), but that's ok. We probably aren't going to be spending much time in the unit for it to matter. We picked Horizons for the water activities.

 

[jdm]

We spent a week at Horizons in March of 2005. I absolutely loved this resort and we've stayed in many including Cypress Harbour and Vistana. It's been a couple of years so I'm sure the resort has grown. We stayed in one of the newer buildings (at that time), I want to say #14 right by the pool. We have a thing about wanting space in the second bedroom and while we love Cypress Harbour, we hate that pullout / double bed situation. We chose Horizons and were not sorry. The pool area is absolutely fantastic for kids. Even my then 12 year old enjoyed the whole pirate ship thing. The second bedroom was large with two double beds which our kids loved. We did not miss the tub as we never use it and we had a huge shower. I didn't feel it was much smaller than Cypress Harbour. I loved the hanging/ swinging benches that overlooked the lake. I found the whole thing to be very peaceful to sit out there and have my morning coffee. The only drawback that my husband wasn't crazy about is that he could hear the I4 noise and the resort hasn't "grown up" meaning, it's not lush and green like CH. Anyway, I'm sure you'll love it. Coincidentally, we'll be staying at Grande Vista for the first time in November and we are looking forward to trying a new Marriott resort. Have fun on your trip!!

Jenn

 

[ttfn3]

Nom My family and I have stayed at both the Marriott Grande Vista and the Marriott Horizons. MGV is a more upscale resort IMHO than the Marriott Horizons. Both places are nice places. MH is better suited to families of small children. The place is much smaller than MGV and easy to walk around. We enjoyed the minature golf, ping pong table, pool table, and basketball courts. The planned activities are hit and miss. I didn't like being so close to I-4. We spent a lot of time hanging out at the resort and I found it distracting. We had a nice unit as far away from I-4 as you can get with a nice view of the manmade lake. We had a daily water skier that we enjoyed watching while drinking coffee. The unit was smaller than MGV and it does not have a jacuzzi tub. It was very clean and comfortable. We did not use the food service. I saw where they do have breakfast. It's served from the bar near one of the pools.

We enjoyed our view at the MGV of the golf course and even saw a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral from our balcony. We had a very large 2 bedroom unit with a separate small apartment. We had family stay with us and it was sorta nice for the grandparents to have their own area complete with a small kitchenette. DH enjoyed taking a golf lesson at the MGV. DS was young at the time and the indoor play area was a great play area to run off some energy when the weather was cold or rainy.

I don't believe you can make a "wrong" choice with either of these resorts. I like trying out different places. However, if the price was the same, I would pick the MGV over MH.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Nom]

thanks everyone! I will definately have to request a room near the back to the resort (near the lake). Can you make requests in advance and if so, how do you do that? (is it via fax like WDW resorts?)

And another question- the room does have some sort of tub, right?

Does anyone know if they offer kareoke (sp?) at night? That is the one activity that I really liked at the GV.

We will be there from Oct 13 - 20, maciec- maybe we could meet up at the pool! My dd is turing 3 on this trip and loves playing with other kids (she is an only right now).

 

[maciec]

Awesome! My kids would love playing with your dd. I am really excited. I don't think that they will have any problems finding friends to play with at the pool.

 

[Detailor]

Can you make requests in advance and if so, how do you do that? (is it via fax like WDW resorts?)
And another question- the room does have some sort of tub, right?

Yes, you can make requests. In my experience I've found that the Marriott's try harder to satisfy guest requests than many of the other resort, but you can't always expect to get everything you want. Rather than faxing your request, I'd suggest that you call the resort about two weeks before your arrival date. (407) 465-6000.

There's a tub in the second bathroom and a shower in the master bath according to the sample layout drawing.

Dick Taylor